Lewis Captures Crowd at MGEU Convention
Oct 30, 2008
This past weekend saw the MGEU host its 60th convention – The Power of U: Better Union, Better Work, Better World.
The highlight of many over the two days was undoubtedly the keynote speech of Stephen Lewis. He’s a best-selling author, a tireless activist, a professor, the chairperson of his own foundation, and a former politician. And if you’ve been in his audience before, he’s quite possibly one of the best orators you will ever witness.
Lewis loosened up the audience of more than 400 with humour as he introduced himself and spoke of his recent travels around North America. He took several politically-charged jabs at politicians and applauded MGEU members for their honourable work in the public service. But, being Steven Lewis, the levity quickly dissipated. There were important issues to discuss.
He proceeded to focus the audience’s attention across the Atlantic to Africa and the atrocities and extreme poverty that he has witnessed in his many years of work there. And he seems absolutely indignant in describing the horrid conditions he has witnessed, not to mention how we in the developed world can continue to sit by and allow such things to happen. In the hour that he spoke, he moved many delegates to tears by reminding them that “a quarter of humankind lives on less than a $1.25 per day.”
But rather than dwell on how complex and daunting the challenges in Africa are, he reminded everyone that Africa needs “a decent human response” more than anything. He couldn’t fail to note how quickly the United States government found $700 billion to bail out the financial sector while Western countries haven’t been able to gather the $20+ billion they had already pledged in financial assistance to Africa.
To that end, he thanked the MGEU for taking another step forward in the fight against poverty by recently developing a Humanitarian Fund. The MGEU and NUPGE also presented Mr. Lewis with a $10,000 cheque for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports community-based organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Lewis was honoured by the generous gesture and urged delegates to continue giving.
Always inspirational, Lewis left the audience with much to ponder. And that’s a good thing.
Comments
Comments are now closed